October’s Letter from the Editor

Trends I’m Following this Month

Alternative Credentials

There has been a lot of news recently about professional credentials (e.g., badges, certification, micro-credentials) as not only a supplement to a college degree, but also as a potential alternative. What are employers looking for in your industry? Many are focused on skills and training over academic accomplishments, and so credential programs have the potential to grow in popularity among hiring managers and job seekers. A new nonprofit organization, the Credential Transparency Initiative, hopes to make it easier for students, employers, and educators to find and compare the available options.

We discussed this topic in a recent #IOLchat session, revealing the importance of continuing education, professional development, and skill building across industries, even in higher education. Alternative credentials provide multiple avenues to achieve this, including online teaching certification through organizations like the Online Learning Consortium and the University of Wisconsin.

The Next Generation of MOOCs

Massive Open Online Courses aren’t new, but they’ve failed to take off as predicted due in part to low completion rates and questions about learning assessment strategies. The newest offerings offer a format we’re familiar with, but options for students who enroll with the intent of earning an academic certificate or even a master’s degree. MicroMasters programs at 15 different institutions organize students into cohort groups based on their goals (and fees paid). Those interested in academic credit toward a degree can have access to instructor feedback and graded assignments, instead of the peer-grading model used in many MOOCs.

Inside Higher Ed also notes that “each [MicroMasters] program also comes with a corporate endorsement,” with Walmart as one example. This kind of partnerships could boost access to education as employers connect employees with their sponsored programs, and use these programs to discover and recruit new talent.

Online Education in the News

For-profit Closures Continue

The for-profit sector of higher education continues to see programs losing enrollment, as well as closing entire programs and schools.

What: ITT is the latest institution to announce closure. Students in these programs are often left in limbo with unfinished classes interrupted midstream, and unfinished degrees. With this closure there seems to be more of a concerted effort to assist students. ITT has made arrangements with Southern New Hampshire University to “teach out” students enrolled in its Daniel Webster College programs. Students who don’t want to transfer their credits to another school may be eligible to have their existing loans cancelled.

Where: Nationwide, with locations in 38 states

When: ITT announced that it will not offer classes as of its September quarter.

Why: The U.S. Department of Education recently ended federal financial aid funding to ITT students, due to alleged issues related to a range of school activities from financial practices to false marketing of job opportunities for graduates.

LinkedIn Learning

What: LinkedIn Learning is a new offering from this professional community, designed to offer thousands of video training courses in job related topics “covering business, tech, and creative skills.” The system will recommend specific courses for you based on the information in your profile. Soon, employers will be able to offer targeted job training and professional development opportunities to their employees through the platform.

Where: Online

When: Available now for users with Premium accounts and free account users who choose to oat for a monthly or annual subscription to the course platform.

Why: LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com over a year ago, and the integration has been anticipated for a while now. Offering a catalog of online courses allows LinkedIn to further its reputation and services as the “world’s largest professional network.”

Conference Updates

September was a slow month for education conferences, which may not be surprising to those of you also getting settled in your Fall classes. There are many events happening throughout the rest of the year, however. Here are two conferences I am following in October:

This annual meeting of the WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies) focuses on “practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education.” The program features a keynote presentation from Jaime Casap, Google’s Education Evangelist, as well as a host of sessions on topics ranging from open educational resources and adaptive learning to state authorization and social media.

This conference has been appropriately described as “massive” with more than 7,000 attendees and 275 exhibitors. The audience includes information technology professionals, faculty members, and instructional designers who are interested in innovative technology, learning analytics, improving the student experience, and more. EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association for IT professionals working at colleges and universities.

Don’t Miss!

Do you know your credit score? Are you taking on student loans for college? The American Bankers Association established this event to raise awareness and share resources related to developing good financial habits. Get started with our guide to Online College Costs, and make an appointment to speak to your school’s financial assistance advisors.

Join the Points of Light Foundation and TEGNA, Inc. as they coordinate community volunteer projects across the country. Sign up to start your own project or find other projects that need volunteers in your area. The website provides a list of formal rules as well as information about grants and awards. Use #MDDay to share your ideas and involvement.

Academic Calendar Deadlines

MidTerm Exams and Grades: If you are enrolled in online courses on a traditional semester schedule (i.e., 15-16 weeks), your Fall term is in full swing. Many programs post mid-term course grades, which are particularly popular in undergraduate courses. This is a good time to take stock in how far you’ve come and review any feedback you’ve received so far. It’s also important to look ahead through the remainder of your course to make sure you understand the expectations and timelines related to completion. If your courses are on a more accelerated schedule (e.g., 8- or 10-weeks) it’s even more important to make time for a progress review and plan for the future.